First implemented in 1925, the eighty horsepower Fairbanks-Morse engine powered a Westinghouse generator, providing all the electric power the Unity could need. The generator powered the dining hall, art hall, general store and several smaller structures. This new technology provided great comfort to the Koreshans by providing light in individual rooms and thereby no longer requiring the use of oil lamps. In time, the Koreshans even provided electricity to any resident in the Estero area that desired it.
The vintage Fairbanks-Morse Engine remains a part of the historic Koreshan Settlement to this day. It is located in the Generator Building, within the Industrial Area of the historic Koreshan Settlement. Completely restored and rebuilt by hand, the Fairbanks-Morse Engine gives visitors a glimpse at a rare and unique technology no longer seen today. Demonstrations are conducted weekly to show exactly how the engine worked.
